Page 89 of Hopeless Romantic
Levi may have chanted it a few times, because she felt that good. That perfect. Like everything in the universe came together for this one moment. That’s when Levi realized he didn’t just want her to stay the night. He wanted her to stay. Right here, beneath him, in his arms.
Then she started moving, and he was pretty sure his heart lodged itself in his lung, because he became light-headed and stopped breathing at the same time. And when she buried her face in his neck and moaned his name, a mindless whisper, he felt like his heart would beat right out of his fucking chest.
“Do you see it?” she asked, and he realized he was doing more feeling than work, and she was a few notes ahead of him. Rising on an elbow, he pulled her against him until their bodies were slick with friction, and his pulse was spiking like he was in the race of his life.
Then he looked down, their eyes locked, and there it was, the finish line. In all his years of sailing, and all the titles he held, it had never been so clear.
“I see it.” He took her mouth, moving inside her with strong, deep thrusts and feeling her body tightening around him. She rose up to meet him, every fucking time, never shying away, stripping him down until he couldn’t hide anything.
And he didn’t want to. For once in his life, he wanted it all out there. Wanted to see how she’d react, if she’d run or if she’d take a chance on him. And then her hands came up to lace with his and she said, “I got you.”
And hell if he didn’t cry a little. Putting everything he had into those last few moments, he withdrew all the way, then slid back in, meeting her on the return. They both groaned and repeated the motion, over and over again, both giving everything they had.
“I see it, too,” she moaned, and in a final push, she shattered around him. Back arched, head thrown back, riding the high. And when she hit the top and he felt the tremor, he tumbled over with her. The pleasure and loss balling tightly in his chest, then exploding with the force of a semi going headfirst into a concrete wall. The power took him out at the knees, and he pulled her to his side right before he collapsed.
Levi concentrated on pulling air back into his lungs. Beckett hadn’t moved, hadn’t tried to slither away, just lying there, a content ball of sated woman. He tugged her against him, her back to his front, nuzzling into her hair so he could breathe her in. To his surprise, she just melted into him with a dreamy sigh, and Levi knew right then that the peace and solace he’d been searching for was right there in his arms.
Chapter 18
“Ineed to know that you can handle this,” Beckett said, throwing on Levi’s coat and grabbing her keys.
“By the time you get there, it will be nine,” Jeffery pointed out, as if Beckett wasn’t aware of the time. “What kind of emergency could there be this close to closing?”
“It’s a bar, not just a restaurant. And I don’t know.”
When she’d been at the Crow’s Nest earlier that day, things seemed fine. She and Annie met for an early dinner, speculated over how the bachelor party was going, and Beckett naively joked that everything at the restaurant was smooth sailing, even without its captain at the helm.
“Maybe you should call back and get more information before you go all the way across town,” Jeffery said, blocking the front door. “It’s dark out. Too cold to be riding around on your scooter.”
“Which is why I was hoping to take your pickup.” When he didn’t move, she said, “Dad, can I take your truck?”
“Of course. It’s just—” He looked at Thomas on the couch, apprehension creased into his forehead. “I go to Boston tomorrow to meet with a new client. I need to make sure I’m prepared.”
“I’ll be back before you have to leave tomorrow. I’ll probably be back before you go to bed.”
“Okay,” Jeffery said and handed Beckett the truck keys.
“Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek and ducked under his arm to get out the front door. But her dad was right behind her.
“Maybe you should call Levi.”
“Already tried. And if he could be reached, they wouldn’t have called me.”
Jeffery looked ready to swim to Nantucket to bring Levi back if necessary. Tommy rubbed his eyes as he came out on the porch. “Tommy, it’s cold. Get back inside.” To her dad, she said, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“There’s got to be someone else you can call.”
“I’ve called everyone.” She jogged down the steps. “But I’ll try again.” She stopped to open the truck door and found her father right behind her, in his pajamas and bare feet. Oblivious to the frost on the ground. “Good God, Dad, get inside.”
“I can’t,” he said, voice low and desperate. “Tomorrow’s a big day for me. I’ve been working on this score for months. Plus, Thomas has that field trip to the museum.”
“The field trip is Monday, and Tommy and I have walked through everything. No surprises.”
“This is a surprise,” Jeffery said. “What if something happens? He’s already upset about the chicken going. Now you’re leaving so suddenly. What if he starts asking about the field trip?”
“You remind him it’s not until Monday.” She nudged her dad back so she could open the truck door, then squeezed between him and the door to slide behind the wheel. “You were there for me through tough nights. And you were great. You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re going to be okay.” She met his gaze directly. “But I need to hear you say it.”
“We’ll be fine,” he said, gripping the top of the door.
